Signature Theatre News

The Dirty Blondes, a feminist theater company with a taste for provocation, present this brand new play -- THE TUNNEL PLAY -- by playwright and Artistic Director Ashley Jacobson, directed by Courtney Laine Self, in their first ever production in the New York International Fringe Festival.

Casting has been completed for the world premiere of Jordan Harrison's 'Marjorie Prime,' opening September 21, 2014, at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. Directed by Obie Award-winner Les Waters, the profound and engaging new play begins previews September 10 at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. Performances continue through October 19, 2014.

'We're opening doors, singing 'Here we are'!' So sing the three fast friends of Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, and that was the message of Washington-area (and Sondheim specialist) Signature Theatre to the overflowing crowd of thousands last weekend at their Open House celebrating the 25th Anniversary Season.

The Guthrie Theater, in partnership with the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, today announced it will host a one-on-one conversation with Tony Award-nominee Leigh Silverman (Violet on Broadway), director of The Heidi Chronicles which kicks off the Guthrie's 2014-2015 thrust season, and Joel Sass, director of the Guthrie's current hit comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike on August 25 at 7:30pm at the Dowling Studio.

Williamstown Theatre Festival opened The Visit, starring Broadway legend, Chita Rivera and Tony Award winner, Roger Rees. The production runs through August 17, 2014.

Stage and screen star Betty Buckley comes to Joe's Pub at The Public for a run of live shows, October 7, 9-11, to celebrate her latest album Ghostlight, out on September 16 on Palmetto Records. Buckley will perform the new music from the record, which was produced by her longtime friend and fellow music legend T Bone Burnett. Tickets are $50-75, and available now online: www.joespub.com, by phone (212-967-7555) or in person at The Public Theater Box Office (425 Lafayette, NYC).

Broadway legend Chita Rivera makes her Williamstown Theatre Festival debut opposite Festival favorite and former Artistic Director Roger Rees in the newest incarnation of Kander and Ebb's THE VISIT, the musical based on the 1956 tragicomedy by Swiss playwright Friedrich Durrenmatt, with book by Terrence McNally. Director John Doyle has reimagined it as a one-act with a focus on the love story, and his collaboration with Choreographer Graciela Daniele results in a show that makes movement a vital component to convey elements of the narrative without words.

Betsy Wolfe, Andrew Samonsky, John Ellison Conlee, Ann Harada and more complete casting for Transport Group's concert presentation of The Music Man. Hosted by Joe Iconis,the evening will include 58 actors, and the original orchestration featuring 20 instruments, conducted by Joey Chancey,original choreography by Jeffry Denman,.to The Irene Diamond Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center on Monday August 11th, 2014. The evening will be directed by five-time Drama Desk nominee, Jack Cummings III.

On Saturday, September 6th, Everyman Theatre welcomes seasoned theatrical professionals for its panel discussion entitled "Waiting in the Wings." The panel is a part of the discussion series, The World of the Play, which began during the 2013/14 season.

The Old Globe today announced the full cast and creative team for the World Premiere of Bright Star, a new American musical featuring music by Edie Brickell and Steve Martin, lyrics by Brickell, and book by Martin, based on an original story by Martin and Brickell. Directed by Walter Bobbie, Bright Star will run September 13 - November 2, 2014 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run September 13 - September 27. Opening night is Sunday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m. Single tickets go on sale on Friday, August 8 at noon.

Lark Play Development Center has announced that seven plays have been chosen for its 21st Annual Playwrights' Week, which will take place September 22nd - 27th. This year's plays and playwrights are Parachute Men by Mando Alvarado, Lucky Ladies by Dominic Finocchiaro, INC. by Diana Grisanti, No More Sad Things by Hansol Jung, Girl of Glass by Jennifer A. Kokai, Chalk by Walt McGough, and The Tiger Among Us by Lauren Yee.

Huntington Theatre Company announces that Julia Duffy, Tony Award winner Adriane Lenox, and Boston favorite Will Lyman will join the previously announced Malcolm-Jamal Warner in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, the opening production of the 2014 Best of Boston's 33rd season.

Signature Theatre presents Sunday in the Park with George, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical, directed by Signature Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner(Signature's Dreamgirls, The Threepenny Opera). Running in the MAX Theatre beginning tonight, August 5, and playing through September 21, the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine classic is the first production of Signature Theatre's 25th Anniversary.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: KING LEAR opens at Shakespeare in the Park, and SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE begins in D.C., plus Christopher Fitzgerald returns to CHICAGO in a new role and more!

Signature Theatre presents the U.S. premiere of And I and Silence, by Naomi Wallace and directed by Caitlin McLeod. The production runs today, August 5 through September 14, 2014 with a August 25 opening night in The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9thand 10th Avenues). Get a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!

Ghostlight Records will release the original cast recording of The Public Theater's production of A SECOND CHANCE online and in stores today, August 5.

Williamstown Theatre Festival opened The Visit, starring Broadway legend, Chita Rivera and Tony Award winner, Roger Rees. The production runs through August 17, 2014.

Following a critically-acclaimed third season, Stark Naked Theatre Company opens its fourth season on September 5th with the southwest regional premiere of The God Game, written by award-winning playwright Suzanne Bradbeer. Critics praised The God Game in its world premiere earlier this year, calling it "a superb new drama" and "the sort of new work that theatre fans long to see." And just in time for election season, Houston audiences will likewise be enthralled with Stark Naked's production of this exciting political drama. The God Game is a relevant and thought-provoking new play that deftly examines the role of faith on the national political stage. Running through September 20th at Stark Naked Theatre's STUDIO 101, The God Game is directed by Jennifer Dean and features perennial favorites Justin Doran, Philip Lehl, and Kim Tobin-Lehl in the lead roles.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company has announced the appointment of Meghan Pressman as Managing Director. Previously, Pressman served as the Director of Development for New York City's Signature Theatre, a $12 million nonprofit Off-Broadway theatre organization, which exists to honor and celebrate the playwright. Pressman will begin her tenure at Woolly Mammoth at the beginning of Season 35 on Monday, September 15, 2014.